Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) is taking his criticism of GOP
presidential rival Donald Trump to the next level.

Paul's campaign released an online attack ad against Trump on
Wednesday that blasts him for past statements praising Democrats
and left-leaning policies.

"In many cases I probably identify more as a Democrat," Trump
says in a clip from a 2004
interview featured in Paul's ad. "I've been around for a
long time and it just seems that the economy does better under
the Democrats than the Republicans."

In another part of the ad, Trump declares that
now-Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is a
"terrific woman."

"I'm a little biased because I've known her for years. I live in
New York, she lives in New York, and I've known her and her
husband for years. And I really like them both a lot," Trump says
in the clip.

Paul's campaign said the ad is online-only and "will run
through the weekend in Iowa and New Hampshire."

Asked about the ad during CNN interview later in the day,
Trump defended his record.

He insisted he needed to praise — and give contributions to —
Democrats like Clinton in order to win government favors. Trump
suggested, however, that the political system is corrupt and
businessmen like him shouldn't be able to influence politicians
that way.

"If you look at Hillary Clinton, I contributed to everybody. I
was a businessman — a world-class businessman. I built a net
worth of much more than $10 billion," he said. "Everybody
understands that. ... I don't think it's a great thing for
the United States. I'm not sure that the system should work that
way. But as a businessman, I did what other businessmen did and I
contributed to everybody. Everybody liked me."

Trump dismissed Paul's other attacks as "old stuff" and then
trashed his opponent.

"You look at a guy like Rand Paul: He's failing in the
polls, he's weak on the military — he's pathetic on military," he
said, offering a backhanded compliment to Paul's work as an
ophthalmologist. "I actually think he's a far better doctor than
he is a senator."

He also pointed to
last week's indictment against pro-Paul political
operatives working for a super PAC supporting his campaign. The
indictment was related to their 2012 work on the campaign of
Paul's father, Ron.

"Rand's campaign is failing. Hasn't his whole team been
indicted?" Trump asked. "So he's a mess — there's no question
about it."